Method and machine for making cementitious products



METHODAAND MCHlNE FOR MAKING CEMENTiTiOUS PRODUCS.

APPLICATION FLED APH. 12, i920.

g, mma Jy 26319211.,

i yJ2 "raue/1222307' A. 0. CRYOZIER.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUS PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, 1920.

1,385,863. Patented July 26,1921,

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

A. 0. CROZIER.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIDUS PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, I920.

Lq, Patented July 26 MEL HSHEETS-SHEET 3Y F' .JW .il 3.5 y 36 33 3f g i j fvg 59 g3 i E I L@ 5,9 L

imrllvrA OFFICE.

ALFRED OWEN CROZIER, OF NEW YORK, Y.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENTITIOUS PRODUCTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 26, 1921.

Application filed April 12, 1920.` Serial No. 373,004.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED OWEN CROZIER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Machines for Making Cementitious Products, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cementitious articles, more especially concrete pipe and solid or hollow sections for building posts or columns, and for turning out such articles rapidly and economically, preferably using slush or wet concrete for the purpose. By the term slush `or wet concrete as herein used is meant a mixture of hydraulic cement, sand or other suitable inert material, and water in excess of the' amount required for oomplete hydration of the cementitious ingredient. To this and other ends the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combinations of elements hereinafter described.

More particularly the invention relates to the so-called column method of making hollow concrete articles, by removing successive sections from one end of a tubular lcolumn. For this purpose I provide an outer supporting element in the form of an upright ollow shaft or container and inside thereof an inner supporting element in the form of an upright core. In the annular space thus` provided between the two supporting elements the wet concrete is deposited, forming a tubular column ofcementitious material. `The weight of the column thus produced helps to compact and unwater its lower portion, to an extent which partly depends upon the vheight of the column. Preferably its height is such that the products removed in an unset condition from the lower portion will be dense enough, and sufficiently unwatered, to be self-sustaining without lateral support, though unset; that is, stiH enough to stand alone without being deformed by its own weight. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in that regard. When solid round sectionsl are desired the inner element or core is left out and vnot used.

Below the hollow shaft or container is a removably pallet on which the column rests, and at a suitable point means are provided for severing the lower portion of the col- -utmost importance, as will be explained hereinafter. v

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the machine in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Figs. 4, v5 and 6 are sectional plan views on lines 4 4, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of certain parts of the machine.

Figs. 10 and 1]. are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the machine.

The outer supporting element or shaft, in theI present instance circular in cross section and composed of sheet metal of suitable gage, is designated by 10, and is hung on a hopper or collar llwhich can be rotated by means of a worm gear 12 and worm 13, the latter being driven by achain 14 from the sprocket 15 loose on the driving shaft 16. The latter is mounted in bearingsvl on top of the machine and is provided with a c lutch 18 to rotate the Sprocket, as will be readily understood.

The core 19 is suspended from a sleeve 20 having a concentric plate 21 fastened there to. Fastened to this plate by suitable bolts is'a circular ratchet plate 22 (see Fig. 6). Above ratchet plate 22 is a second plate 23. These plates 21 and 23 are secured together by an embracing collar 24 which permits relative rotational movement thereof. These collar members arel provided with a pin which engages a slotted cam 24 and also have a spring pressed pawl which engages ratchet plate 22. The parts just described serve to rotate the core 19 upon its upward movement yand to permit the descent of the core without rotation. Above plate 23 is a cross head 25 arranged to be slidably guided for vertical movement by guide rails 26. This cross-head has a depending sleeve 27 which fits down within sleeve 20 and is splined. The cross-member also is socketed to receive 'arm 28 which is spring seated in thesocket. A screw 29 is provided with a shoulder which rests upon the top of arm 28 and has a lower unthreaded end which fits within the sleeve of the cross-head and is splined thereto. A collar 30 is provided on the lower unthreaded end of the screw and this collar is normally spaced slightly from the end of sleeve 27. The upper end of screw 29 is thre'aded'in the hub of a worm wheel 31 which is rotated by a vworm 32 which is fastened to shaft 16 (see Fig. 3). Rotatable in unison with the worm wheel are trains of gearing 33 and 34 having jaw clutches 35 and 36 to drive the trains from 'a power-actuated element or shaft 37 which is provided with a suitable pulley to take a belt extending to a suitable line shaft or motor. The trains 33 and 34 have a different number of gears therein so that one train will ydrive the worm in one direction and the other train will effect an opposite direction of rotation.

In the present embodiment the lower part of the column is made separatein order preferably to permit the molding of bell mouthed pipe. rlhis mold. section 38 rests upon a pallet 39 which is provided with a suitable interior core to properly shape the bell portion of the pipe. The pallet 39 is carried upon a vertically adjustable table which permits the mold section' to be adjusted closely to the end of the hollow shaft and also permits various lengths of mold sections to be used as will be more fully described hereafter. I

In order to cut off the lower section of the concrete column, I provide knives 40 which are operated by links and arms connected to rock shafts 41.4 These rock shafts are rocked in unison by suitable intermeshing sector gears 42 and 43. The method of operating these knives will be hereafter described..

In order to facilitate the setting of the concrete I provide inlet and exhaust pipes 44 adapted to admit steam to the interior of the core and to withdraw the water condensed therein. These pipes are provided with suitable flexible rubber hose connections which are adapted to permit the partial rotation of the core 19. The outer shell or shaft in some cases preferably is similarly heated by similar means.

It will be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. All clutches are disengaged and the machine is stationary. A mass of slushy concrete is,

poured into the space between supporting shaft or hopper 11 and core 19. The weight of the column is such as to help unwater the lower portion of the concrete column and firmlycompact the cementitious material to fill the mold section 38. The water being the lightest of thel aggregates in the concrete tends to rise in the mass thus helping to unwater the lower part of the column. The handle 45 is now pulled down and through a pin 46 and slotted link 47 will pull down on rod 48 rocking bell crank 49 clockwise and throwing clutch 35 into engagement. The gear train 33 worm wheel 32 and worm gear 31 will then raise screw 29. The initial upward movement of the screw effects no lifting action upon the cross-head 25. When collar 30 contacts against the lower end of sleeve 27 the cross-head is lifted, thereby lifting the core 19. Concurrently'this core is rotated by means of the cam 24 and the ratchet mechanism heretofore described.

This rotational movement of the core trowels lthe interior surface of the cementitious column including interior surface of the Iarticle which is still integral with the column and thereby produces a surface which will become, when set, hard and smooth, due to the ompacting effect and the additional neat cement which is drawn to the surface by the trowel like action of the core in its rotation.

The upward movement of the cross-head 25 and core continues. Eventually arm 28 which moves up in unison with the crosshead contacts with a stop 50 carried by a vertical rod 51, thereby lifting the -rod,'and through a lost motion spring block connection 52 actuating the rock shaft 41 so as to move the knives 40 to closed position (see Fig. 10) and thereby sever the molded article from the cementitious column. After the core is withdrawn above the knives and the knives closed the spring connection 52 permits arm 28 to come into contact with an adjustable stop 53 on rod 48, thereby lifting rod 48, rocking bell crank 49 and disengaging clutch 35 so as to stop the upward movement of the cross head. The machine is now at a standstill with the core in the upper position.

The completed article here :shown as a bell mouth pipe is then removed by a conveyer or in any othea.-v suitable manner and an empty mold section or a section with a small quantity of concrete tamped aroundthe bell mouth is placed in position 'and brought-up close to the lower end of the supporting column member 10.

Prior to the descent of core 19 the knives must be withdrawn. This is effected as follows: Surrounding rod 51 is a sleeve 54 having a pin engaging a slot in the rod as shown in'Fig. A coil spring 55 surrounds the sleeve and normally holds the sleeve and rod -in a predetermined angular position. lConnected with sleeve 54 is a slotted link 56 which through the slot connects with an arm 57 extendin upwardly from lever 45 (see Fig. 10). hen lever 45 is lifted manually, to restart the machine and cause the descent of the core, arm 57 and link 56 will turn the sleeve 54 thereby rotating rod 51 slightly 4so as to free sto 50 from the end of arm 28 (see Fig. 8). od 51 then drops (sliding through sleeve 54) permitting the knives to return to open position under the influence of return spring 58 (see Fig. 2). The return of the knives is also effected by means of an extension 45a from lever 45, which coperates with an arm fastened to left hand shaft 41 so as to rock the shaft upon the movement of the lever 45.

The aforesaid knife movements are effect ed prior to the engagement of the clutch by reason of the slotted link 47. The pin 46 travels Vat first idly in the slot and during this period the knives are released. When the pin contacts with the end of the slot in link 47, the rod 48 is lifted thereby en*- gaging clutches 36 and 18 and causing the descent of the core and the rotation of the supporting member or column 10. The rotation of this member 10 thoroughly trowels the exterior of the column as will readily be understood. The rotation movement also facilitates the downward movement of the column of concrete which moves downwardly in unison with the downward movement of core 19 into the mold section 38.

The downward movement of the core 19 is effected by the rotation of screw 29 in reverse direction which lowers the cross-head 25 and arm 28. Arm 28' eventually contacts with an adjustable stop 59 on rod 48, there- 'by moving the rod downwardly and disengaging the clutch 36 thereby bringing the machine to a standstill. Inasmuch as it takes an appreciable time to bring the machine to a standstill and effect the disengagement of the clutch, ll provide the spring 28a interposed between the arm 28 and the socket of the cross-arm. This spring 28a allows the arm 28 a slight additional downward movement thereby compressing the spring during which additional movement of the arm the clutch is entirely disengaged.

The slot in arm 56 permits the rocking of the lever 45 to start the machine without rocking or rotating rod 51.

My machine is adapted to be used in the manufacture of concrete pipe having varying internal and external diameters. By replacing the core 19 with'a core of dliferent diameter, the interior diameter may be varied and by replacing the supporting shaft element or member 10 with one `of a different diameter the exterior diameter can be varied. At 60 are shown guiding rollers for the lower end of the sleeve 10. The rollers 60 are mounted upon ad'ustable supports as best shown in Fig. 5. hese adjustable supporting brackets permit the rollers to accommodate different sized shafts 10.

Varying lengths of pipe may also be made. To vary the length of pipe a mold section 38 of proper length is used and the lower table is adjusted to proper position by hand wheel 61. The stops 53, 50 and 59 are also provided with set screws so that these stops can be set at any desired position on the control rods. InV this way various lengths of pipe may be made upon the same machine without undue difficulty.

One of the important features of the present invention is the rotation of the elements concurrently with the descending or ascending movements thereof. This rotational movement not only effects the compacting and troweling action upon the surfaces of the column and complete article, but coperates to facilitate both the withdrawal of the core and the descent of the column in unison with the core. Without lsuch rotation there is a tendency for the surfaces of the column to adhere to the core or shaft supporting element. This tendency is diminished by permitting the core to descend in unison with the column as set forth in my copending application, Ser. No. 363,648. However, by the rotation of the elements, water is drawn to the surface of the column, which water acts as a lubricating agent making the core slide up more easily and the column descend more readily. This is particula-rly the case with the descent of thel column, as this descent is effected during the rotational movement of the shaft support ing element, at which time the maximum of loo water is at the surface of the concrete. i

lPreferably the core and supporting shaft or container rotate alternately but not in unison.

After a complete article has been formed, the steps in -the operation heretofore set forth are repeated and thereafter a series of articles which are so troweled inside and rout are cut off and withdrawn from the lower portion of vthe column of cementitious material. Fresh material is added from time to time.

It is important to note that this method does not depend wholly upon the weight of the concrete inthe column to compact or densify and unwater the concrete of the lower part of the column and render it relatively self-sustaining when cut 0H in sections that are to be the desired products. The effect of confining such slush concrete between the core and supporting shaft or container, and alternately repeatedly rotating such shaft and core is to work or knead -or manipulate such concrete and thus readjust the various solid particles thereof and compact and fit them more snugly together and concurrently expel from the interior of the concrete mass toward its surfaces the excess portion of the watery therein. It should be noted that there is considerable troweling'effect obtained by the sliding of the column intermittently in contact with the core and con-l tainer shaft even when neither the core no r shaft is rotated.

In my copending application Serial No. 373,065 I have disclosed and claimed a modiied form of the invention in which the pallet is bodily movable to and from the mouth of the container element. The broad features of that invention are claimed ,in the present application.

is given a tubular form, means for raising.

and lowering one of said elements rela-- tively to the column; means for rotating one of said elements relatively to the column for troweling the surface thereof; 'and means for severing the lower portion of the column.

2. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in combination, an element comprising an upright hollow shaft like member or container for an unset cementitious column, an element comprising a core arranged vertically in said sleeve like member whereby the cementitious column is given a tubular form, means for raising and lowering one of-said elements relatively to the column, means for rotating lboth of said elements relatively to the column for troweling both the interior and exterior surfaces thereof and means for severi'ng the lower portion of the column.

3. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset` cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and -outer upright elements, in combination, an

inner core element, an outer shaft element,

means for removing a section of the column' ment for rotating the other element whereby a surface of the column is troweled.

4. In a machine for making hollow .con-

ytubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an inner core element, an outer shaft element, means for removing a section of the column after each descent, means operable in harmony therewith for raising and lowering one of said elements, and means operable in harmony with the raising of one of the elements for rotating that element whereby a surface of the column is troweled. 5. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an

inner core element, an outer shaft element,

means for removing a section of the column after each descent, means operable 1n harmony therewith for raising and lowering one of said elements, and means operable in harmony with the raising of one element for rotating thatrelement and thereby troweling a surface of the column, said means being adapted to permit the descent of the said element without rotation.

6. In a machine for making hollow con 4 crete articles in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an inner core element, an outer .shaft element,

means for removing a section of the column after each descent, means operable in harmony therewith for raising and lowering one of said elements, means operable in harmony with the raising of one element for rotating that element and thereby troweling a surface of the column, said means being adapted to permit the descent of the said element without rotation, and means operable upon the descent of the aforesaid element for rotating the other element whereby the other surface of the column is troweled.

7. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in combinatioman element comprising an upright hollow shaft or container for an unset cementitious column, an element comprising an upright core therein, means for raising and lowerin one of said elements and for supporting t e other element in the machine, said means being adapted to permit the substitution of eleinesaeea ments of different sizes whereby varying sizes of articles may be made, and means for severing the lower portion of the cementitious column.

8. In a machine for making hollow7 concrete articles, in combination, an element comprising an upright hollow shaft or container for an unset cementitious column, an upright core in said shaft whereby the cementitious column is given a tubular form,

means for supporting said elements in themachine, said means being adapted to receive elements of varying sizes whereby various sized articles may be produced, means for raising and lowering one of said elements, means for adjusting the extent of movement of said means to thereby vary the length of the article produced, a removable mold section below the column, and an adjustable table adapted to support said mold section and to be vertically displaced to receive mold sections of different lengths.

9. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in combination, an element comprising an upright hollow shaft or column forming a container for an unset cementitious column, an element comprising a core arranged vertically within the shaft and adapted to give the cementitious column a tubular form, means for raising and lowering one of said elements and foradjusting the extent of the vertical movement of said element, a table carrying a pallet and forming a support for the lower end of the cementitious column, means for adjusting the vertical position of said table in accordance with the adjustment of the extent of movement of themovable element, and means for severing a section from the lower end of the column.

10. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in combination, an element comprising an upright hollow shaft forming a container for an unset cementitious column; an element comprising a core arranged vertically within the shaft and adapted to give the unsctcementitious column a tubular form; a power actuated element; means for raising and lowering one of said elements' nieanf-' for clutching and declutching-tiie'aforesaid raising and lowering means from the power actuated element automatically by the operation of the machine, and means operable in harmony with the operation 0f the machine for severing a section of the said column.

11. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles in combination, an element comprising an'upright hollow shaft or container for an unset cementitious column; an element comprising a core arranged vertically in the shaft, said elements being ada ted to give a cenientitious column a tubu ar form; means for raising and lowering one of said elements relatively to the column, and

means operable automatically by the inachine for bringing the movable element to a stop at a predetermined point, and means for severing the lower portion of the column.

12. rThe invention set forth in claim 11, in which the means for bringing the movable element to a stop is adjustable so as to permit varying extents of travel of said element.

13. The invention set forth in claim 12in which the means for bringing themovable element to a standstill is adapted to limit both the raising and lowering movements of said'movable element.-

14. 1n a machine for making hollow concrete articles in which such articles are formed by successively removing sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements in combination with said inner core element, an outer shaft element, means for removing a section after each descent, means operable in harmony therewith for raising and lowering one of the elements and for automatically arresting said element at predetermined points, and manually operated means for restarting the raising or lowering movement of the element after it is automatically arrested.

15. The invention set forth in claim 14 in which the means for arresting the movement can be adjusted so as to vary the eX- tent of movement of thev movable element and permit articles of different lengths to be made.

16. 1n a machine for making cementitious articles from an intermittently descending column of cementitious material, the combination of a hollow shaft forming a contion of the column, and means for efectin a relative rotation between the hollow sha t and the column whereby the surface of the column is troweled and the relative movement of column and shaft facilitated.

17. The method of making hollow concrete articles, which consists in intermittently descending an unset cementitious column between inner and outer upright elements, intermittently removing successive sections from the bottom of the column and in ti'oweling one or both surfaces of the column by effecting a relative rotational movement of the column and upright element.

18. The method of making hollow concrete articles which consists in intermittently descending an unset cementitious column between inner and outer supporting elements to forni the column during suchy descent, rotarily troweling a surface of the column during such descent, rotarily troweling another surface after the descent 1s completed and in successively removing completed articles from the bottom of the column.

19. The method of making cementitious articles which consists in intermittently descending an unset cementitious column within an outer supporting element to form and compact the column during such descent, rotarily troweling the outer surface of the column and in successively removing completed articles from the bottom of the-column.

20. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in combination, an element comprising an upright hollow shaft or container for an unset cementitious column, an element comprising an upright core therein, means for raising and lowering one of said elements whereby the unset concrete column intermittently descends, means for adjusting the length of the column thus descending whereby the length of the completed. article may be varied, and means for severlng the lower portion of the cementitious column.

21. The method of making hollow concrete articles which consists in maintaining a slushy mass of concrete between inner and outer supporting elements to unwater the concrete and to compact the same into an unset cementitious column of tubular form, thereafter lowering the unset tubular cementitious column into a mold section to further compact the same, and thereafter severing the end of the column carried by the mold section.

22. The method of making round concrete articles which consists in maintaining a slushy mass of concrete in a circular upright container shaft element to unwater the concrete and compact the same into an unset cementitious column of round form, thereafter lowering the unset round column into a mold section'to further compact the same, and thereafter severing the end of the column carried by the mold section.

23. The method of making round concrete articles which consists in maintaining a slushy mass of concrete in a supporting upright circular container shaft element to partly unwater and compact the concrete of the cementitious column, concurrently subjecting a surface of such column to heat to help set and unwater the concrete of the column, thereafter lowering the column to free the lower part thereof from the container shaft and then severing from the 'column the part thereof so freed from the shaft. g

24. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descen'fd'ing inset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an outer shaft element, an inner core element, a pallet for supporting said tubular column of cementitious material, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and one of the elements to permit the descent of the tubular column, and means for severing the column after such descent.

25. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lowerportion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner' and outer upright elements in combination, an outer shaft element, an inner core element, a pallet for supporting said tubular column of cementitious material, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and one of the elements to permit the descent of the tubular column, means for severing the column after such descent, and means for lowering the pallet after the severing is completedto permit the removal of the completed article.

26. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portionof an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between 'inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an outer shaft element, an inner core element, a pallet for supporting said tubular column of cementitious materal, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and one of the elements to permit the descent of the tubular column, means for rotating one of the said elements during the descent of the column and means for severing the column after such descent.

27. In a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in which such articles areY formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an outer shaft element, an inner core element, a pallet for supporting said tubular column of cementitious material, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and one of the elements to permit the descent of the tubular column, means for limiting said relative movement of the pallet and said element after the column has descended to a predetermined point, and means for severing the lower end of the column.

28. In 'a machine for making hollow concrete articles, in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of tubular form maintained between inner and outer upright elements, in combination, an outer shaft element, an inner core element, a pallet for supporting said tubular column of cementitious material, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and one of the elements to permit the descent of the tubular column, means for limiting said relative movement of the pallet and said element, means for severing the lower end of the column, and means for effecting a second relative movement of the pallet and one of said elements to bring the parts in position to permit the second descent of the tubular column.

29. In a machine for making cementitious articles in which such articles are formed by removing successive sections from the lower portion of an intermittently descending unset cementitious column of round form within an outer supporting element, an outer shaft element, a pallet below the same for supporting said column of cementitious material, means for effecting a relative vertical movement of the pallet and sai-d element to permit the descent of the round column, and means for severing the column after such descent.

30. The method of making hollow cementitious articles which consists in. shaping the column in tubular form from a mass of slushy concrete so as to unwater and compact the concrete, thereafter lowering the column and concurrently troweling the surface thereof thereby withdrawing additional water from the cementitious column, and thereafter successively removing the completed articles from the bottom of the column.

after cutting off a section of the lower end of the column.

32. The method of making hollow concrete articles which consists in maintaining a slushy mass of concrete between inner and outer supporting elements, to unwater the concrete and to compact the same into a column of tubular form, thereafter successively withdrawing the compacted unset lower end of the cementitious column from its position of support by the outer supporting element, and thereafter successively cutting ofi completed sections from said protruding column.

33,. The method of making round concrete articles which consists in maintaining a slushy mass of concrete in a supporting upright container shaft element to partly unwater and compact -the concrete of the cementitious column, concurrently subjecting a surface of such column to heat to help set and unwater the concrete of the column,

thereafter withdrawing the unset lower end of the column from its position of support by the shaft and then severing from the column the part thereof so freed from the shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALFRED OWEN CROZIER. 

